49ers: Live Week 17 thread versus the Rams

To finish out the season, the San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams in a Week 17 matchup. Niner Noise has all your updates from the game, as well as analysis and your comment thread.

With one game remaining for the 2017 San Francisco 49ers, it is safe to say it has been a whirlwind of a campaign for this team.

From starting out at 1-10 and no real direction, to acquiring quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and a subsequent winning streak of four games, the valleys have been low and the peaks have been high. A victory against the Los Angeles Rams would end the year on a positive note.

It will be less of intrigue as head coach Sean McVay has decided to rest his starters ahead of the looming playoffs, but nonetheless this game represents a peek into the future NFC West rivalry with San Francisco surging upward.

As always, Niner Noise has your in-game thread with scoring updates and a comment thread you can participate in at the bottom of the article.

Follow along with us, as the 49ers aim to end their season on a five-game winning streak and finish 6-10.

First Quarter

To begin the game, San Francisco received the ball.

On their opening possession, Garoppolo’s 44-yard pass to tight end George Kittle put the 49ers in Rams territory. But the offense stalled out after three incompletions in the red zone. Kicker Robbie Gould’s 33-yard field goal was good to put San Francisco up 3-0.

Los Angeles was unable to convert on 3rd and 10 after a false start penalty backed them up.

The following drive was a stellar one from the 49ers, which began with a 35-yard reception to Kittle. A dose of running back Carlos Hyde was thrown in and it was capped off with wide receiver Marquise Goodwin’s eight-yard touchdown reception.

Garoppolo is is 6-9 for 100 yards and one touchdown through 10 minutes of play, and San Francisco was leading 10-0.

Another lackluster from the Rams as they went three-and-out again on their next drive. Safety Eric Reid has been a force on both possessions.

There was a bad mistake from Garoppolo as under-threw Goodwin and defensive back Kevin Peterson intercepted him and returned the ball back into 49ers territory.

Despite the solid field position, Los Angeles was unable to punch it in for six. Kicker Sam Ficken’s  23-yard field goal was good and it is 10-3 to end the first quarter.

Second Quarter

The hot start the 49ers got off to has cooled as their second straight possession ended without points. But the Sean Mannion-led offense has been less then stellar today, and San Francisco got the ball back without squandering any points.

Running back Matt Breida was impactful on the 49ers next drive, but Garoppolo’s pass on 3rd and 4 was incomplete. Gould’s 48-yard field goal was good to extend San Francisco’s lead to 13-3.

On the Rams following possession, defensive lineman Sheldon Day sacked Mannion on 3rd down to force another punt. At this point, Mannion was 8-5 for 18 yards as the half neared.

A scary sight ensued on the next drive, as Goodwin was hit in devastating fashion by defensive back Blake Countess and had to be carted off the field.

But the 49ers were able to rally themselves on the following play with running back Carlos Hyde’s eight-yard touchdown to put them up 20-3.

The Rams next drive ended with defensive lineman DeForest Buckner’s hit on Mannion which forced a fumble, that was then recovered by defensive lineman Solomon Thomas. Garoppolo threw an interception on the very next play though, giving Los Angeles the ball back right before the half.

Mannion was able to hook up with wide receiver Michael Thomas for 50 yards to set up Ficken’s 21-yard field goal. At the half, the 49ers are winning 20-6.

Third Quarter

To begin the second half, the Rams offense continued its sluggish performance with another punt. The 49ers did not do anything themselves on their next drive either, with Kittle fumbling Garoppolo’s pass on 3rd and 4.

Another punt from Los Angeles on the following possession resulted in a San Francisco score as Hyde marched in for a five-yard touchdown, his second score of the game, to put the 49ers up 27-6 with 6:12 remaining the in third quarter.

Rookie defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon has been solid since taking over the No. 1 cornerback duties, and he continued his ascent with a forced fumble on the Rams’ next drive.

At the end of three quarters, San Francisco was leading 27-6.

Fourth Quarter

Opening up the final frame of play, Garoppolo hit wide receiver Aldrick Robinson for a 12-yard touchdown to make it 34-6. It was Garoppolo’s second touchdown of the game.

It took 54 minutes of game time, but the Rams finally found the end zone on the following drive with running back Lance Dunbar’s eight-yard touchdown run to make it 34-13.

After being gifted an extended possession due to a roughing the kicker penalty on 4th down, Hyde eventually fumbled the ball as the 49ers marched down the field. But Los Angeles was unable to muster anything, and San Francisco ran the clock out to win the game.

Final stat lines:

• Garoppolo: 20-33, 292 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions.
• Hyde: 15 carries, 90 yards, two touchdowns.
• Breida: 12 carries, 72 yards.
• Kittle: four receptions, 100 yards.

The 49ers end the season on a five-game winning streak, finish 6-10.

Next: San Francisco 49ers: 2018 NFL Draft order scenarios for Week 17

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